Scotty James

Scott James (born 6 July 1994) is an Australian snowboarder, five-time Olympian , and children’s book author. He was the flag bearer for Australia at the 2018 Winter Olympics, where he won a bronze medal in the halfpipe. After winning halfpipe silver medals at both the 2022 and 2026 Winter Olympics, he became Australia's most decorated Winter Olympian.

Career James's began riding at age three, and his first snowboard was a display board in a shop in Vancouver. James and his father had trouble finding a board small enough for him, so they bought the display board for $10. He began competing at age six and started travelling for competitions at 10 years old. At the time, Europe and America were the main locations for snowboarding training and competitions. His mother accompanied him on the road, homeschooling him and providing tutors when needed. James has stated, "There's been a lot of sacrifice from my parents to get me here — and I'm very grateful." Due to his success at a young age, James began to be viewed by media and peers as a snowboarding prodigy.

He moved from racing into halfpipe and slopestyle events, making his international debut as a 14-year-old at the 2008 Europa Cup in Saas Fee, Switzerland. When Australian Nathan Johnstone was ruled out of the 2010 Winter Olympics with an ankle injury, James went to the World Cup event in Stoneham, Canada, to try to achieve the top-19 result that would make him eligible to replace Johnstone at the Olympics. He pulled off his best result to date, a 15th-place finish, which secured him a spot in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. At the age of 15, James was Australia's youngest male Olympian in 50 years and the youngest male competitor at the Vancouver Games. While training for the halfpipe event in Vancouver, James caught his heel-edge and slapped against the wall, fracturing his right wrist. Despite the injury, James competed in the event, finishing 21st.

From early 2011 to 2012, all of James' World Cup results in Halfpipe, Slopestyle and Big Air climbed into the top ten territory. He won a silver in the men's halfpipe competition in Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

In December 2022, James earned a near-perfect score of 99.00 on his second run in the men's final of the U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix. It was the second-highest score in the history of International Ski and Snowboard Federation events. The highest, a 100.00, was awarded to Shaun White at the 2018 Aspen Snowmass halfpipe event. The 99.00 score was the highest ever earned by James in a halfpipe event. His run started with a switch McTwist Japan with massive amplitude that caused audible gasps from the crowd, into a cab 1440 stalefish, frontside 1080 tail grab, cab 900 indy, and ending with a switch backside double cork 1260 indy.

At the 2023 World Championships in Bakuriani, Georgia, James was unable to land on the podium and finished in 5th place with a score of 86.50.

In 2024, James authored his first children’s book, Mooki vs the Big Scary, which received positive reviews. This was followed up with a sequel, Mooki vs the Terrible Toys.

At the 2026 Winter Olympics, James earned a silver medal in the Halfpipe event with a score of 93.50.

Cryptocurrency In October 2022, OKX, a cryptocurrency exchange, announced that James would be an influencer for OKX.

Personal life James grew up in Warrandyte, Victoria, and is a keen golfer and skateboarder. He attended secondary school at Southwood Boys Grammar (now part of Tintern Grammar).

James dated American comedian and professional surfer, Ivy Miller from 2016 to 2018. In late 2019, James began dating Canadian heiress and singer Chloe Stroll. Stroll's brother, F1 driver Lance Stroll, introduced the two, stating to Chloe at the time, “I think I just found the guy you're going to marry.” James and Stroll became engaged in 2021 and married in May 2023. The couple currently reside together in Monaco, giving James quick access to halfpipe training grounds in Saas-Fee, Switzerland and the French Alps.

James is good friends with F1 driver and fellow Australian Daniel Ricciardo.

James is a passionate Essendon Football Club supporter.

James converted to Judaism sometime before his marriage to Chloe, and confirmed it in an interview on the radio podcast The Red Flags Pod. "We're Jews," said one of the interviewers. James chimed in, "So am I. I actually am; I converted." He later said, "It was important to Chloe and the family, and I value that" as part of his reason behind his conversion.

In October 2024, Scotty and Chloe welcomed their first child.

Awards In 2018, James became the first snowboarder to win the VIS Award of Excellence. The Victorian Institute of Sport's Award of Excellence honours the athlete who has achieved outstanding sporting results at major events during the year while contributing to the promotion and development of their sport and/or made a significant contribution to society beyond pure sporting performance. 2017 Athlete of the Year Snow Australia

Male Athlete of the Year Australian Institute of Sport Awards Award of Excellence Victorian Institute of Sport 2020 Athlete of the Year Snow Australia Year Age Halfpipe Slopestyle 2010 Vancouver 15 21 – 2014 Sochi 19 21 16 2018 Pyeonchang 23 3 – 2022 Beijing 27 2 – 2026 Milano Cortina 31 2 –

World Championships

Year Age Halfpipe Slopestyle 2009 Gangwon 14 48 – 2013 Stoneham 18 6 16 2015 Kreischberg 20 1 – 2017 Sierra Nevada 22 1 – 2019 Utah 24 1 – 2021 Aspen 26 2 – 2021 Bakuriani 28 5 – 2025 Engadin 30 1 –